Page 191 - Records of Bahrain (5) (ii)_Neat

The progress of state education, 1939-1941 511

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Hie three higher classes in tbo car.o of tbo villago schools. The boy cou-
linucs tu wwivo Religious Instruction and Cburaotor Training, IIo begins
to study Arabic as a langungo, not moroly as a medium of reading or
writing. As soon as bo enters tbo Stage bo starts to learn ono foreign
language, English. Ho passes to highor branches of Arithmetic, parti­
cularly tbo arithmetic of Monoy, and bo mastoru tbo various ourronoics in
USo* in Bahrain. IIo studies olornentary World History and World
Geography. Ho gives up manual occupations of tbo kindergarten kind,
Imt continues bis Drawing, and bo makes a closer study of Sanitutiou and
Health. Ho receives an increased amount of Physical Training. Singing
is still included. IIo studios tbo History of Bahrain iu much fullor dotaik
The classes in which bo sits aro Nos. 4, 5, and fj.

At the end of bis time in a Second Stago school tbo boy’s ago is either
12,13, or M, according to tbo degreo of intelligence which ho has displayed
in that and the previous Stago. Unless bo is ono of tbo really bright boys,
he now leaves school finally, having obtained a sound general education
up to a limited (but not very limited) standard. IIo will bo ahlo to spoak,
read, and write, iu good and fluent Arabic, and will know bow to manago
his money a Hairs without being cheated. Ho will have a working know­
ledge of English. Mo will know well tbo history of his Island, and will
hftvo«|uitc. a fair idea of tbo history and tbo geography of tbo world. IIo
will bo able to draw. IIo will know a good deal about sanitation and
health, and will have undergono at least six years' physical training. Ho
will also have rocoivod at last six years' religious instruction and six years’
characler-lruiniug. Wo cun give him wbou ho leaves a Lower CortiGeato
of (Jencrul Education.
The curriculum of Final Stago education carries to highor levels tbo
general education of the Second Stage, but includes additions, It is
defmilely designed and adapted to (it boys for responsible) posts in Govern-
mciit ollices, with the Oil Company, and in banks and business bouses,
hut it must also bo suitablo for tboso boys who wish to proceed to higher
education in colleges or universities abroad, or iu Bahrain itself, if at some
liitcr dale a lligber.Collcgo or University should be established there. Iu bis
Third, or Final Stage, tbo study of tbo Qur’an and tbo Training of Character
continues. Much attention is now dovoted to tbo study of English, but on
no account is this allowed to prejudioo tbo study of Arabic (an important
matter, which is discussed later iu this Report). Simplified versions of tbo
English classics aro road, and tbo boys are proparod for a foroign examina­
tion in English, such as tbo oxaminatiou for tho Cambridge Cortilicato
°f Proficiency iu Euglish. To Arithmotio aro now added olornentary
Algebra and Goometry, und very elementary Scionco—chiolly Physics,
noriel History und World Goograpby aro studied in groator detail. Thoro
•snow iiihtniction in Civios, and thoro is a class for Bookkeepiug. To tbo
slndeiiI,';; provious kuowlcdgo of Sanitation and Health we add a little
siiii|)lo Biology. Physical Training continues. Tbo curriculum of tbo
inal stage should, bowovor, bo anything but a rigid ono : on tbo
contrary, tbo Inspector should from tiuio to timo altor and udupt it, by tbo
•mroiluelion of any subject or subjects which ho finds have boon inado
necessary by tbo domuuds of omployors, or by tbo naturo of tbo various
onus i.i| employment which seom to bo oponing tbciusolvos out to pupils
ron' I be fiobools: and otbor subjects, which ho finds impractical or
luntccwHiry bo should omit; for, abovo all, education at Bubrain must havo
ls practical sido, suitod to tbo ueeds of tbo Island, and of tbo boys who
nro iK'ing educated. At tbo ond of tbo Final Stage, wo can givo tbo pupil
•gbur CortiGeato of General Education,